Conservation Corner – February 2025

GOOD NEWS ON THE NATIONAL FRONT! (From National Audubon)

Congress recently reauthorized two incredibly important bird and aquatic habitat conservation programs in the America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024 (ACE Act):

  • The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), a popular and effective U.S. Fish & Wildlife public-private partnership program for wetland conservation across North America. Our Flathead partners have secured several million dollars from NAWCA to protect wetlands in both the Flathead and Mission Valleys! 
  • The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act and the National Fish Habitat Partnership program. Since its establishment in 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership Program has funded more than 1,100 aquatic conservation projects across the U.S. This reauthorization will provide the program with $10 million annually for the next five years.

Congress also established the U.S. Foundation for International Conservation to bridge financial gaps for communities, tribes and others working to ensure healthy lands and waters. This Foundation will serve as a U.S.-led grant-making entity to support $3 billion in public-private partnerships for conserving vulnerable habitat around the world over the next decade.

GREAT NEWS ON THE MONTANA FRONT!

In December, 2024, Montana’s Supreme Court upheld Held v. Montana lawsuit that affirmed “… Montana’s right to a clean and healthful environment and environmental life support system includes a stable climate system.”  The ruling restores consideration of greenhouse gasses as part of Montana’s Environmental Policy Act that was removed by the 2023 legislature. Read more about the ruling in The Daily Montanan: Montana Supreme Court affirms decision in Held, historic youth climate case

THE 2025 MONTANA LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS UNDER WAY.

Your input makes a difference! Don’t forget to sign up for Montana Audubon’s Action Alerts.

In each Action Alert, Montana Audubon Staff highlight:

  • Key pieces of legislation that need immediate action;
  • Contact information for relevant legislators.
  • How to submit comments to critical committees and before key votes. 

You may also want to sign up for the excellent Montana Wild legislative alerts (formerly Montana Wilderness Association) at https://wildmontana.org/take-action/.

Here are two recent bills vitally important to Montana birds: 

       House Bill 57 would remove California Quail and Gambel’s Quail from the exotic species list and classify them as Upland Game Birds, a title reserved for Ring-necked Pheasant, Gray Partridge, Wild Turkey, Chukar, and our native Grouse and Ptarmigan. OPPOSE

       House Bill 73 repeals a section of law that authorizes livestock and poultry owners to kill predatory birds, in conflict with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.SUPPORT

LOCAL CLIMATE ACTIVITIES

The next climate network roundtable is February 11, noon, at FWP in Kalispell (490 N. Meridian Rd.). The roundtable will feature Kyle Bocinsky, Climate Extension Director for the Montana Climate Office at the University of Montana.

Montana Department of Environmental Quality seeks citizen input by January 31 as it develops its Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (aka the Big Sky Emissions Reduction Roadmap. This is a great opportunity to share the emission reduction actions that you think are most important for Montana.  Take the 10-minute survey

Thank you for your help and support for Conservation!